The National tribune., 1887-05-12
OUR RURAL TOPICS
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
THE PRESENTATION OF Hay.

THE PRESERVATION OF HAY.
II goes without saying that tons upon tons of
hay are ruinod before they ever get into the
barn or in the stacks. Many men seem in
disposed 20 study the nature Of grass and hay,
or even to think Of the effect Of too great ma
turity or the weather upon them. Acres of
grass are annually permitted to mature before
cutting TO degree that makes the hay mostly
wood fiber. Then the immense quantities of
hay that are put into stacks suffer detriment to
the extent that the storms and winds can reach
the hay. It is one of the big leaks on the farm,
and a little thought will show that to be the
case. One writer speaks about the effect of the
wind upon the hay-stacks, and says that it is
particularly noticeable on alfalfa stacks. On the
inside Of these stacks where the light and wind
does not penetrate the alfalfa preserves its color
of bright green. But on the outside of the stack
it will bleach and discolor. Well, what shall
be doneP Barn room is not always available.
The next best thing is to cover the stack, and
boards are the best for that purpose for the stack
should be covered so that the sides can be pro-
tected. If the csYer is only such that the sides
will catch all the drip there will not be any
great benefit, though there will be some.
ONION GROWING ON MUCK SOIL.
Muck soil is fast taking precedence for the
culture of onions Old boys and tamarack
swamps that have been repulsive TO sight all
over the country are being reclaimed and util-
lied for the culture of onions. These swamps
when properly drained possess these advantages
over ordinary soils for onions: The soil is very
loose and mellow, rendering the wedding pro-
cess very easy, and only half rs expensive as on
other soils without the loss of the knee-pans or
finger nails Of the weeders. The labor of drill
ing in the seed and pushing the hand cultivatOr
is much more easily performed than upon ordi-
nary SOIL as is also the pulling process in bar-
yesting the crop. The cost OF fertilizing muck
ground for onions is much less than that OF other
soils, rs il yields more readily to the proper ar
tificial fertilizers which if used from the be-
ginning precludes the possibility of filling the
soil with the seeds of weeds, as is the case when
barnyard manure is used Muck ground must
be thoroughly drained, and then it will not pro-
duee a good crop of onions without proper ferti-
lizers, as the tendency is to go to scullions.
NOTES
"A few small potatoes raw, turnips, or
pumpkin given to.cattle once day, have de-
cIdcd influence on their appetite and health.
They will eat more hay or fodder.
- Labor expended in cutting corn fodder,
straw, hay, aud messing cattle, sheep, and other
stock with a chai.ed material aud some ground
grain will save a good deal on farms where such
method has not been practiced.
- Prof Roberts, of Cornell University, has
made the following calculation, which ought to
open the eyes Of the farmers who have barn
yards of side-hills or where the juice runs
away: At Cornell there were 81 inches of
rainfall in the year. The barnyard is l00xl00
feet, about one quarter of al acre. Every inch
Of rain would make 100 tons for an acre, or 3 200
for the year to an acre or 500 tons for the barn
yard. If one-half was leached out, il would
be 400 tons Each ton of water leached out
would carry of 60 cents worth of plant food, or
1910 worth from tine barnyard. IT'S true, the
inky streams cunning from the barnyard down
the road, into the creek or on the neighbours
lot is the best part of the manure. 1t is money
running away.
A hen kept over three years will not pay
for the keeping This has been the experience
for over 20 years.
-"Wolf teeth" in horses do 10 harm and
should be let alone.
- Raise two or three guineas for alarms TO
scare the crows aud hawks. They also make
good night watchmen.
Make the nests Of sitting hens shallow, so
that when she steps on the eggs they will roll
TO one side and not be broken.
"A filthy poultry house is not tolerated by
good breeder. lie knows that it is dctrimen-
tai to the health of his flock, as well as asource
OF disgust 10 visitors.
Horses ought invariably to be watered be-
fore feeding, or the small particles of undgested
food get washed into the intestines, causing in
digestion, stOppage, and collie.
| No cream should be put into the cream pot
for ~ hours before churning, rs this cream will
not be ripe, and all the butter will not come
Swimming aud churning right away are wrong.
There is nothing so good to keep a sow
| from getting crazy and destroying her pigs as
| bran. 1t should be given twice day in liberal
doses. 1t may be mixed with oornmeal, rye or
| anything.
- There are farmers in the vicinity of all
large cities who buy up their beef cattle at low
| price, and then fatten them, and not only get
we'll paid for the additional flesh they put on.
but also double value for what they bought.
| There is moro money in this fattenng business
| 10 those who feed judciously, than most farmers
are willing TO believe
For harness varnish, dissolve, in about
half pint of methylated spirit, two ounces of
shellac, half an ounce of Venice turpentine, and
one ounce OF gum benzOin. Stir in n suiiiCiency
OF a mixture of four parts drop-black, and one of
| indigo blue, 10 form deepy-cOlored varnish,
| then make up with spirit TO the measure of one
pint Apply with a sponge or soft brush.
The best way TO get rid of hazel bushes or
any Others Is to pillow them up in midsummer,
and pile them up and burn them. Get q strong
pillow and team enough to pull through them and
under them. Plow again about the first of Sep
tember and put in rye or wheat. The land may
then be seeded again and the increase of the
pasture will more than pay for all of the trou-
bic. II il is not desirable to plow up the whole,
then pillow up the bushes and harrow the ground
over, and sow fresh grass seed. Burn the
bushes on these spots for a fertilizer.
Il